Is there a size limit for SSD on 5,1 MacPros?

[machenryr]

I have two Mac Pros 5,1 3.46 gz. My main one is early 2009. The other one is mid 2010. I'd like to put two SSD 4TB drives in the 2009 but I don't see any available for the 5,1 at OWC. I see the largest compatible is 2TB. Can I put a 4TB in these, or is there some strange limitation?

 

[fhturner]

There are plenty more options than just OWC for storage. Samsung 860 EVOs and 860 Pros are particularly good. They have 4TB capacities for about $700 and $1000, respectively. You just need SATA SSDs and possibly some adapter brackets, depending on how you want to install/mount. You could also do significantly faster NVMe SSDs like the 970 EVO, but that maxes out at 2TB presently.

 

[bsbeamer]

Limitation is with what's available. Hard to find M.2 NVMe over 1TB, but nearly impossible to find over 2TB. You'll be looking at U.2 form factor (with adapter) or SATA SSD.

Samsung EVO 860 SATA SSD are available at 4TB and do work with MP5,1.

Unsure if the new Samsung 860 QVO's work, but they are also available at 4TB. There are mixed reports on their overall Mac compatibility right now. Personally would not purchase.

 

[machenryr]

Thanks guys. Are there 3 TB available? $700 is a little more than I was hoping for. I guess I'll just do better house keeping for now. My OS/App drive is 2TB with 40gb left.

 

[fhturner]

Thanks guys. Are there 3 TB available? $700 is a little more than I was hoping for. I guess I'll just do better house keeping for now. My OS/App drive is 2TB with 40gb left.

LOL, yes...a 1TB coupled w/ a 2TB! I'm not aware of any 3TB models. Each size increase is usually a doubling of the lower capacity. So, 250GB x 2 = 500GB x 2 = 1TB x 2 = 2TB x 2 = 4TB.

 

[machenryr]

LOL, yes...a 1TB coupled w/ a 2TB! I'm not aware of any 3TB models. Each size increase is usually a doubling of the lower capacity. So, 250GB x 2 = 500GB x 2 = 1TB x 2 = 2TB x 2 = 4TB.

Ah! Thanks. I thought it was something like that. I'm just being lazy. But not $700 lazy. And since I like to have a mirror drive for nightly back up that means two for $1,400. Naw. Not now. LOL. Slap in the head. Came to my senses. Thanks.

 

[fhturner]

Ah! Thanks. I thought it was something like that. I'm just being lazy. But not $700 lazy. And since I like to have a mirror drive for nightly back up that means two for $1,400. Naw. Not now. LOL. Slap in the head. Came to my senses. Thanks.

If you're not actually *mirroring* but just doing a nightly clone, why not do that to a mechanical hard drive instead? You're not going to really care how fast THAT drive is, as long as you have a snapshot of your main SSD... Then you're only at a little over $800 if you got a NAS model.

 

[machenryr]

If you're not actually *mirroring* but just doing a nightly clone, why not do that to a mechanical hard drive instead? You're not going to really care how fast THAT drive is, as long as you have a snapshot of your main SSD... Then you're only at a little over $800 if you got a NAS model.

Actually yes. I DO do that. LOL. Although it's not super necessary but I have two almost identical MacPros. I have Mirrored drives that's aren't OS/Ap and the back ups to SATA. It's early man. LOL.

 

[bsbeamer]

Only I've seen around 3TB are server-grade/SAS SSDs around 3.2TB. If the standard consumer ones are out of your budget, there's no way these are in your budget, even if you find heavily used. Spend the extra $200-300 and get a 4TB SATA SSD if storage capacity is your main priority. Also recommend to keep at least 10% of the drive free at all times, when possible.

Here are the PM1725a and PM1725b models in case you really want to look into them. As far as I'm aware, these specific models have not been tested in MP5,1's.

http://image-us.samsung.com/SamsungUS/PIM/Samsung_1725b_Product.pdf
https://www.samsung.com/us/labs/pdfs/collateral/pm1725-ProdOverview-2015.pdf
https://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/ssd/enterprise-ssd/MZPLL3T2HAJQ/
https://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/ssd/enterprise-ssd/MZPLL3T2HMLS/

 

[edgerider]

or get a areca 1880 and 8x2tb drive for 500€ and call it a day... 8drive in raid 6 would give you 1200 mb/s all day...
until they do 8 tb nvme for 500€, raid it the most worthy.

 

[Slash-2CPU]

Samsung QVO 4TB aren't that terribly expensive.

OWC SSD's are SO overpriced. There are some 2.8TB and 3.2TB models, but they're enterprise/server stuff.

 

[bsbeamer]

Samsung QVO 4TB aren't that terribly expensive.

There are no confirmed reports on this forum about 860 QVO with MP5,1 at the moment. If purchasing, be sure to purchase from a retailer with a good return policy. Unsure if firmware is 100% compatible.

FYI:
970 PRO uses Samsung V-NAND 2bit MLC
860 EVO, 970 EVO, 970 EVO PLUS all use Samsung V-NAND 3bit MLC (TLC)
860 QVO uses Samsung V-NAND 4bit MLC (QLC)

 

[kings79]

IS Samsung 870 QVO compatible with a 5,1 for use as storege and not OS?

There seems to be a firmwre tool for Mac now?...

Tool & Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Download various software related to your product, including Samsung Magician, designed for use with Samsung's memory products, and find related information.

www.samsung.com